No Clear Winner Could Mean a Clear Loser for Conservatives

If we learned anything from the CNN/You Tube Debate, it may be that there is still much for conservatives to learn about the Republican candidates running for president in 2008.

Overall, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee may have emerged as the conservative victors in this debate, although much can be said for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. McCain earned points for his poise, while Huckabee struck a chord with his humor. Romney, on the other hand, held his own and didn't lose his cool during two tense discussions with McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani did everything possible to distance himself from conservatives, and may have lost their votes in one three-hour period by practically touting his liberal stances on issues like gun control and gay marriage. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for conservatives, however, had to be former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who earned the National Right To Life Committee's endorsement, but failed to generate any traction during the debate.

Until Nov. 28, most of the rancor from the GOP candidates had been leveled squarely at Hillary Clinton, but Wednesday night they turned on one another. While each candidate planned for this newfound vitriol to seperate him from the rest of the pack, all it really did was muddy the water even further.